Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco California
 Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco California

San Francisco, CA

Houses in San Francisco

  • About

  • History

  • Location

  • Things to do

  • Demographics

  • Culture

  • Schools

  • FAQ

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Everything you need to know about buying a house in San Francisco

San Francisco, one of the USA’s most cosmopolitan cities, has certainly become the premier financial and cultural center of the western side of the country. The city, also the seat of San Francisco County, is the 17thlargest city in the United States and the 4th largest in California.

San Francisco is home to the immediate region's financial and tourism industries. The second highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the USA can be found in The Bay Area around the city. This is second only to the New York metropolitan area, seeing some thirty companies having their presence in the area.

Now is definitely a very good time to consider buying a house in San Francisco as the housing market should stay strong for years to come.

History of San Francisco

History of San Francisco

History of California

The famous poet George Sterling called San Francisco “the cool gray city of love,” and declared it to be one of one of the most attractive, elegant, distinctive and colorful places anyone could live in. It was originally back in 1835 that an Englishman by the name of William Richardson, founded Yerba Buena, which was what San Francisco was first called. 11 years later in 1846, the USA annexed California and on 30 January 1847 it was renamed San Francisco.

History of California

Things to do in San Francisco

Things to do in San Francisco

Alcatraz San Francisco California

That there is much to do in San Francisco is an understatement. For starters, the city’s Golden Gate Park is actually almost one quarter times larger than New York’s Central Park! It was in the Golden Gate Park’s Tea Garden in the late 1800s that the fortune cookie was invented by Japanese immigrant, Makoto Hagiwara. San Francisco has the largest Japantown in the United States.

A trip across the Golden Gate Bridge, a visit to Alcatraz, and a trip on a cable car (the only moving national landmark in the USA) are a must. Should you buy a house in San Francisco, the latter could well become a regular activity. You’ll also find 11 historical districts, more than 200 historic landmark buildings, and 14,000 Victorian homes in the city. So, regardless of whether you are a visitor or a San Francisco homeowner, you’ll find plenty of photographic opportunities!

The three-story chocolate factory on Ghirardelli Square has been completely renovated and is now a wonderful shopping center with plenty of non-corporate shops and restaurants. For foodies, San Francisco lays claim to several signatures – the Mission-style burrito, sourdough bread, Irish coffee, and even martinis!

Alcatraz San Francisco California

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Location

Map showing San Francisco

Location

San Francisco lies on a peninsula in the Pacific Ocean in northern California on the west coast of the United States. It is noted for being a predominantly hilly city, having been built on top of more than 50 hills, with some of the neighborhoods named after the particular hill they are located on. So many of these areas are simply just great locations to buy a house in San Francisco. It is these famously steep streets which present spectacular views over what many consider to be one of the world’s greatest bays.

San Francisco demographics

San Francisco demographics

Large group of people forming the shape of California

There can be no denying that San Francisco is a thriving city. It is also an extremely multicultural, and therefore, international city. As well as local Americans, you will find Chinese, Filipinos, Hispanics and Japanese, all bringing with them their wonderful culture and food.

The city has a population of around 885,000. It is also on the list of top 20 growing cities in the USA, and the predictions are for the population to reach approximately 970,000 people by 2040. San Francisco is contained within the five-county San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward, California metro area, a region that has a population of some 4.75 million people.

The largest San Francisco racial/ethnic groups are white (39.8%), followed by Asian (34.9%, including Chinese at 20.9%, Filipino at 3.7% and Japanese at 1.2%), Hispanic (15.2%) and African Americans (5.5%). The male population counts for 51.1% and the female population 48.9%. The median age for San Francisco is 38.3 years old, while the median household income is $119,136 with an individual per capita median income of $72,041.

The most prominent industries within the city include a highly-diverse service economy, tourism, high technology, medical research and biotechnology, and financial services – with its legacy going back to the Gold Rush. There are over 30 international financial institutions and six Fortune 500 companies located in the city.

Shipping, oil, and some of the major industries in San Francisco can be found around the East Bay area, while San Jose, around an hour away from the city, is renowned for the world-famous Silicon Valley as the major hub for many of the most famous technological players on the planet. So certainly, if you are in these industries, buying a house in San Francisco would be a very wise move. Meanwhile, the North Bay is home to the country's major names in the wine industry as well as a very vibrant and nationally-important agricultural trade.

Large group of people forming the shape of California

Arts in San Francisco

Arts in San Francisco

Castro District San Francisco California

San Francisco is well known for being at the forefront of many artistic movements over the years. In the 1950’s, San Francisco was world-famous for Beatniks. Then, in the 1960’s, it became a center for hippies. Today it is well-known for its vibrant gay scene. San Francisco is also renowned as a “walking city,” and this is supported by the eclectic combination of businesses, restaurants and venues that not only provide what local residents require, but also serve visitors and tourists.

In the city’s famous War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, you will find some of the most resilient performing-arts companies in the USA and the world-class War Memorial Opera House. The famous Fillmore, which gave some of the world’s best-loved and enduring rock acts their first stage appearance, can be found in Western Addition. You will find many theaters, live venues, museums and sports venues dotted throughout the city. San Francisco is also home to two major sports teams – the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.

Castro District San Francisco California

Schools in San Francisco

Schools in San Francisco

If you are a family with children, educational options are a must when considering buying a San Francisco house. Unlike many other US cities, the Bay Area offers a much wider curriculum. There are a total of 525 schools in the area – 264 preschools, 225 elementaries, 144 middle schools, 82 high schools, 116 public district schools, 15 public charter schools and 394 private schools. Importantly, for expats, there are some 17 international schools with the Haight-Ashbury, Mission and Richmond areas leading the way. The International Baccalaureate leads, but everything from French to German to Chinese is available. You will also find a good number of schools that are not only bilingual, but the curriculum, for example German, will be taught through the German language itself. Parents can easily access excellent essay writing guidance and tutoring for their children to help them achieve entry to their ideal school.

Stanford University California

Why San Francisco?

Why San Francisco?

Fishermans Wharf San Francisco California

Is Buying a House in San Francisco a Good Move?
Experts say an estimated 2.1 million more people will move to the Bay Area by 2040. That means in excess of one million extra jobs being created. Therefore, 660,000 new housing units will also be needed to provide for these people, rendering the city even more vibrant. So, combined with San Francisco having been named one of the best places in California (and some even say the USA) to live, if ever there was a good time to buy a house in San Francisco, that time is now.

Fishermans Wharf San Francisco California
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